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A review by maiagaia
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
A Southern gothic horror about a dysfunctional family and a house that is just Wrong. Aka: everything I could possibly want. And this does not disappoint!
The atmosphere is perfection, and the characters and their relationships are fantastic. This isn't particularly scary, but it is definitely chilling, and there are a few moments that creeped me out quite a bit.
The only complaints I have as far as character are India and Odessa. As other people have said, India does NOT read as thirteen. I do think that was the point, but it didn't quite work for me. She should have been a little older, imo. Odessa is the only significant nonwhite character, and while interesting, is very underdeveloped. She fits the magical negro trope to a T, which undercuts so much of what she could have been.
Outside of characterization, there are some loose ends that aren't quite tied up, which isn't necessarily a bad thing to me but might bother some readers.
The atmosphere is perfection, and the characters and their relationships are fantastic. This isn't particularly scary, but it is definitely chilling, and there are a few moments that creeped me out quite a bit.
The only complaints I have as far as character are India and Odessa. As other people have said, India does NOT read as thirteen. I do think that was the point, but it didn't quite work for me. She should have been a little older, imo. Odessa is the only significant nonwhite character, and while interesting, is very underdeveloped. She fits the magical negro trope to a T, which undercuts so much of what she could have been.
Outside of characterization, there are some loose ends that aren't quite tied up, which isn't necessarily a bad thing to me but might bother some readers.